Hib Vaccine Recommendations

Below are summaries of recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For the full text of the recommendations, see Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) ACIP Vaccine Recommendations.

 

Routine Vaccination of Infants and Children

CDC recommends routine administration of a conjugate Hib vaccine series beginning at age 2 months:

• Infants 2 through 6 months of age should receive a 3-dose series of Hib PRP-T as ActHib^®, Hiberix^®, or Pentacel^® or a 2-dose series of Hib PRP-OMP as PedvaxHib^® (Table 1).
• The first dose can be administered as early as age 6 weeks.
• A booster dose (which will be dose 3 or 4 depending on vaccine type used in the primary series) of any licensed conjugate Hib vaccine is recommended at age 12 through 15 months and at least 8 weeks after the most recent Hib vaccination.

 

Catch-up Guidance for Children 4 Months through 18 Years

The following “job-aids” provide catch-up guidance for Hib vaccination for children 4 months through 18 years of age, including detailed scenarios by age group and previous doses of vaccine received. These materials should assist healthcare professionals in interpreting Figure 2 of the Childhood/Adolescent Immunization catch-up schedule.

• Hib Vaccine Products: ActHIB^®, Pentacel^®, or Unknown [3 pages]
• Hib Vaccine Products: Pedvax^® Vaccines Only [3 pages]

 

Contraindications and Precautions

Hib vaccines should not be administered to:

• A person who has ever had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose
• A person who has a severe allergy to any vaccine component
• A person younger than 6 weeks

Hib vaccines may be administered, if the provider and parent deems the benefits of vaccination to outweigh the risks, to:

• A person who has a moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever

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